Can I fire 00 buckshot and rifled slugs from my Beretta 391?

[gunsrfun1]

Hello - This may be a silly question, but I'd rather risk a stupid question than risk damage to my gun.
I have a collection of 2 3/4" 00 buckshot and rifled slugs that I've purchased over the past few years. I was planning to use them as a home defense load and buy a pump gun for it, but I'm not going to do that. So eventually I'll probably sell most of it.
But before I do, I figure I might as well shoot some of it, just for the experience. (I've never fired 00 buck loads or rifled slugs before.)
I'm thinking of shooting both of these loads out of my Beretta 391 field gun with a 28" barrel. This leads me to my two questions:
1) Is it safe to do so, in terms of not damaging the barrel? By that I mean, are 00 buck or rifled slugs somehow too large of a shot size for a field barrel? (Since I believe most field loads are smaller shot sizes like 7 or 8.)
2) What is the smallest I should go on a choke, again to avoid any possible risk of damage? From what I've read on some web sites, the conventional wisdom is that you should not go tighter than a Modified choke when shooting 00 buck, and you should not go tighter than Improved Cylinder for rifled slugs.
I'd be interested in your answers to both questions.
Thanks

 

[243winxb]

Some buckshot may be plated, harder. Slugs that are lead are soft. Using the modified choke should work ok..

Info from your owners manual.

NOTICE: Beretta Mobilchoke® SP (Steel-Proof) screw-in chokes tubes have
been specially designed to take the punishment of non-toxic steel shot.
For best results with steel shot, Beretta recommends a modified choke. Full
choke constriction when using steel shot does not increase pattern density
and often distorts normal pattern density associated with lead.
Remember that standard old type Beretta Mobilchoke®
tubes were not de-
signed for steel shot. Before shooting steel shot cartridges check that the
Beretta Mobilchoke®
tubes are marked SP.

 

[kudu]

You should be able to use any choke for the buck, generally I/C will give best patterns, but Mod may do well also. Full tends to distort larger 00 buck but is still usable . As far as slugs go, all chokes should work but I would not use full choke just in case. Foster style slugs will swage/squeeze down to the bore diameter of your choke, once again I/C or Mod choke would generally work best. Brenneke type slugs are a different design and I/C would probably be best for them.

 

[gunsrfun1]

Thanks Kudu, so basically as long as I don't use anything tighter than a Mod (and preferably an I/C), I can shoot either type of round without causing any damage to the gun, correct? I just want to be sure I understood you correctly.

 

[1KPerDay]

You can shoot buck and standard foster type slugs through full chokes without damage to the gun. Hardened brenneke type slugs you probably don't want to shoot through full chokes.

 

[200Apples]

Hardened brenneke type slugs you probably don't want to shoot through full chokes.

That was my thought as well... until I read Brenneke's website. Apparently, one may shoot nearly any Brenneke slug through just about any choke! I was surprised. Kudu is right on the money.

BrennkeUSA FAQ Page

The purpose of the ribs on the outside diameter of the slug (with the exception of the 3- inch Gold Magnum/Magnum Crush and the all brass Super Sabot which are designed for rifle barrel shotguns only) allows them, unlike most competitors slugs, to be used with any choke. As the slug passes through the three constricted areas, inside of the barrel, the Forcing Cone, Inside Bore, and then the Choke, the excess lead is squeezed into the gaps between the ribs with no damage to the barrel. Somewhat better accuracy may be noted when using the more open choke - Improved Cylinder.

 

[kudu]

I just want to be sure I understood you correctly.

Yes, now go have some fun and blast some bad guy jugs of water.

 

[MtnCreek]

As thin as a 391 barrel is, I wouldn't shoot slugs through one. Just my opinion based on speculation of what might happen with no evidence to back it up... FWIW, my son shot a dillo yesterday with 2 3/4 OO buck through a 391 with skeet choke.

 

[jmr40]

You won't hurt your gun at all, even with full choke but you'll get better results with IC or MOD. The extra full turkey choke tubes might be too much choke.

 

[Walkalong]

As a youngster we were always told not to use slugs in full choke barrels. This was long before screw in chokes. I still think it is good advise, although barrel steel may make that a moot point these days. They certainly are not optimal for slugs.

 

[gunsrfun1]

Thanks all for your responses. Based on what you've advised, I think I will go with either a cylinder or improved cylinder choke when trying out both the buckshot and the slugs. Since I am only going to be shooting a limited amount of both load, purely for the experience of doing so, I won't mind if the accuracy isn't optimal.

 

[RMc]

Full tends to distort larger 00 buck but is still usable ..

Twelve gauge Full choke distortion* of 00B is not an issue with factory buckshot loads that utilize a two pellet per layer or spiral (offset) pellet stack patterns.

*Deformed pellets that result in larger patterns.

 

[browningguy]

Absolutely no problem shooting these. I use both a Benelli M2 and a Mossberg Rhythm in 3 gun and shoot slugs and buckshot through them all the time, I usually just have an IC choke installed.